Material handling mechanism



Sept. 1, 1936. c s. HENDERSON 2,053,147

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHAN I SM Filed Feb. 23, 1953 [N VENTOR'} Char/es 5.Henderson,

A T'Y Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISMCharles S. Henderson, Grandview Heights, Ohio,

assignor to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of OhioApplication February 23, 1933, Serial No. 658,167

16 Claims. (01. 198-144) For handling material of many kinds, it iswidely customary to employ mechanical conveying mechanisms of varioustypes, in which, however, generally speaking, the conveyinginstrumentalities include buckets or equivalent receptacles forreceiving the materials being handled. These receptacles are chargedwith material at a given location, travel on a conveyor chain orsimilar' transportingmechanism, suitably driven, to the point ofdischarge, where the material contained in the receptacles isdischarged, usually through the receptacles assuming an invertedposition.

Where the material beinghandled is'of a'more or less pulverulentcharacter, or is of a character such that there is a tendency to becomepacked in the receptacle during transportation thereof, some means mustbe provided for loosening the material for efiecting complete dischargethereof fromthe buckets or receptacles.

The improvements in the art represented by the presentinvention includethe provision of instrumentalities designed'to impart to eachreceptacle, as it discharges, an agitation or vibration whereby anycompacted material may be loosened'sufliciently for enabling the same todrop from the receptacle as F it assumes discharging position. Thisvibration may be, specifically, in the nature of a blow or impactdelivered against the receptacle as it discharges, although theinvention, in its broader aspects,.includes the imparting of any kind ofvibratory action to the receptacles.

In the preferred adaptationtof the invention, however, the mechanismprovided for the purpose above indicatedincludes shock producing meansoscillatably balanced on the drive shaft of the conveyorin such amannerthat each receptacle will be struck by a sharp hammer-like blowas'the receptacle dischargeatheshock producing means being displaced byengagement of each receptacle therewith, and'being counterbalanced so asto swing back from its displaced position in time to strike thenextsucceeding receptacle of the con-' veyorw-ith suificient force todislodge all material therefrom;

The accompanying drawing-shows, for purposes of illustration, one formof installation as applied to a bucket elevator, although obviously theconstruction may be adaptedto many dilferent forms or typesofinstalla'tion without departing from the inventive concept.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 represents a transverse sectional elevationalview of a bucket elevator provided with shock or vibration producinginstrumentalities contemplated by this invention.-

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken-on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking inthe directio-n'of the arrows, the drive shaft, however, being shown inelevation for purposes of clarity.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it 5' will be observedthatthe illustrated modification of the invention includes the conveyorbuckets A, secured by bolts 3,. in an. obvious manner, to a pair ofconveyor chains C traveling onvspaced sprockets D in the usual manner.The sprockets D are keyed to the drive shaft E, as indicated at F, sothat the sprockets continuously rotate with theshaft, which is drivenfrom any suitable source of power, notshown. Interconnecting thesuccessive links of the chain C areanti-friction rollersG. Thisconstruction is substantially that well-known in the art.

Considering now the shock producing instrue mentalities of the presentinvention it will be seen that intermediate the sprockets D, andillustrated as alsokeyed to the shaft E'for rotation therewith, are thebushings 1,, provided with smooth, flat bearingsurfacesZ, and endflanges 3. The sleeves I are arranged on the shaft E so that the flanges3- are disposed in opposite directions.

On the bearing surfaces 2 are fitted bearing sleeves 4 provided withflanges 5. ,These sleeves 4 are freely turnable relative to the bushingsI, and-are further provided with ports'or openings 6 and 6a extending tothe bearing surfaces 2, for supplying lubricant from the lubricantsupply pipes 1 and 1a.

To the flanges 5 of the sleeves 4 are secured by. bolts, or equivalentfastening instrumentalities, 8, the carriers or hangers 9' to which thebumper plate") is secured. These hangers are of the shape clearly shownin Fig. 1, thebumper plate l0 being mounted adjacent one end of thehangers by means 'of'bolts I lfand being positioned Jso" that it will beengaged by the buckets 40 A as these buckets swinginto dischargingposition. Adjacent the other end of the bumper plate hangers arepositioned counter-weights l2 which are sufiiciently heavy to maintainnormally, the plate it! in engagement with the buckets A.- Obviously,therefore, as the buckets A and the plate Ill impact together, the blowtherebetween will dislodge all material from the buckets to completelydischarge the latter, the engagement causing the bumper plate is,sleeves 4 and bumper plate hangers 9 to yield together relatively tobushings I, to enable the buckets A to pass by the plate 10, after whichaction the weights-l2 return these parts in time for the plate llltostrike the next succeeding bucket of '55 the series, as it discharges.The movement of the buckets is in the direction of the large arrow inFig. 1.

It will be seen that the bumper plate hangers 9 are suspended on thesleeves 4 and are of angular cross section, for attachment to theflanges 5 of the sleeves 4 and for receiving the lubricant outlets l3and I4, which enter the openings or ports 6 and 6a, respectively,whereby effective lubrication between the bushings l and sleeves 4 isobtained. The inter-connections between the outlets I3 and I4 andlubricant supplypipes 1 and 1a. may be conveniently-of the typeillustrated at '5 and I6, respectively, in Fig. 2, the pipes beingprovided with pressure lubricating fittings l1 and Ila, for attachmentto a desired type of grease gun or other pressure lubricating device,not shown, whereby lubricant may be forced between the engaging surfacesof the bushings l and sleeves 4, thereby maintaining friction and wearbetween these relatively moving surfaces, at the minimum, thus assuringfree oscillation of the bumper assembly around the bushings I.

It will be seen from the above that by interposingthe bushings l betweenthe shaft E and the sleeves 4, the shaft is protected from wear. Thesebushings I may be made readily replaceable and may also be made ofrelatively softer material than the sleeves 4, so that the bushings,rather than the sleeves, will take the wear.

It should also be noted that plates are secured to the outer edges ofthe buckets in parallel spaced-apart planes at right angles to the axisof the shaft E, as shown in the drawing. These plates are adapted toco-operate with the outer flat surfaces of the buckets to form chutes asshown in Fig. 1, to receive the material discharged from the buckets anddirected laterally in a direction away from the shaft E, as viewed inFig. 1. That is to say, as each bucket discharges material the latter isreceived by the chute immediately below and at the side of the nextlower bucket so as to assure delivery of the material from the bucketconveyor to a predetermined or selected location.

The operation of the device will become apparent from the aboveconsiderations, and a detailed discussion thereof is believed to beunnecessary, beyond reviewing the fact that the weights l2 hold thebumper plate ID in the path of travel of the buckets A, so that as thebuckets engage the plate I0, the impact will produce a shock, withattendant vibrations, against each bucket as it reaches its dischargingposition, so as to loosen all material contained therein, enabling thesame to be completely discharged from the bucket. As each bucketcontinues to move past the bumper plate, responsive to continuedrotation of the sprockets D, the bumper assembly consisting of thebumper plate 10, hangers 9 therefor, and the sleeves 4, will be swungagainst the action of weights l2 sufiiciently toenable the bucket topass. As soon as this happens, weights l2 again swing the bumperassembly in the opposite direction to impact against the succeedingbucket of the series as this bucket discharges, so that each bucket willbe shaken or vibrated substantially coincidently with its discharge, sothat all material will be effectively loosened and shaken therefrom. Thefree movement between the sleeves 4 and bushings l enables the bumper Into freely swing back. and

ment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination,an endless bucket conveyor and driving shaft therefor for moving thebuckets of the conveyor from charging to discharging position, a bumperfor engaging each successive bucket incident to its reaching dischargingposition for imparting a hammer-like impact to each bucket, mountingmechanism for the bumper comprising bushings keyed to the shaft forrotation therewith, the said bushings being provided with a smoothbearing surface, hangers for the bumper, bearing sleeves secured to thecarrier devices and mounted on the smooth bearing surfaces of thebushings, the said sleeves being independently turnable relative to thesaid bushings for enabling the bumper to yield under engagement with thebuckets to allow the latter to pass thereby, instrumentalities forfeeding lubricant between the said bushings and sleeves for enablingfree motion therebetween, and means on the said hangers for forciblyreturning the bumper to bucket engaging position to impact against eachsuccessive bucket as it reaches discharging position.

2. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with aconveyor including material handling buckets, of a drive shaft for theconveyor, bushings mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, and abumper swingably suspended from the bushings for imparting a hammer-likeimpact to each bucket as the successive buckets assume dischargingposition.

3. Conveyor mechanism comprising the combination with a shaft havingspaced-apart sprocket wheels keyed to the shaft, a conveyor chainrunning over each sprocket, and conveyor buckets between the chains andsecured to each of the chains, of bushings removably keyed to the shaftintermediate the sprocket wheels, bearing sleeves for the bushingsfreely rotatable relatively thereto, hangers suspended from the bearingsleeves and movable with the sleeves relatively to the bushings, abumperinterconnecting the hangers and adapted to strike against eachbucket to produce a shock thereto to dislodge completely the materialcontained in the buckets, and counterweights on the hangers forincreasing the force of the impacts of the bumper on the buckets.

4. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with a shaftfor supporting a bucket conveyor, of hangers freely suspended from theshaft, and a bumper extending between and connecting the hangers andarranged to swing against each successive bucket of the conveyor as thebucket assumes discharging position.

5. In a bucket elevator, the combination with a bucket conveyor, ofmeans for supporting and guiding said conveyor for travel in an upwardlyextending loop from a carrying position on one side of said loop to adischarging position on the other side thereof, said supporting meanscomprising a bearing within said loop and extending transverselythereof, and automatic mechanism journaled on said bearing foroscillation within said loop in position to strike hammer blows againstsaid buckets to dislodge therefrom material adhering thereto.

6. In a bucket elevator, the combination with a bucket conveyor, ofsprocket mechanism connected to said conveyor, a supporting shaftconnected to said sprocket mechanism to rotate therewith, and mechanismjournaled on said shaft in position for automatic oscillation on theaxis of said shaft by direct engagement with the buckets of saidconveyor for striking hammer blows against the bottoms of thedischarging sides of said buckets to dislodge material adhering thereto.

7. In a bucket elevator, the combination with a bucket conveyor, ofmeans for supporting and guiding the same, and automatic mechanism forstriking a hammer blow against the bottom of each bucket when inposition to discharge the material therein over the top downwardlyinclined surface of the next lower bucket.

8. In a material handling mechanism, the combination with a conveyorincluding material conveying devices, of a drive shaft therefor, andmeans for imparting shocks to each successive material conveying device,said means being piv- -'0ted to said drive shaft.

9. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with aconveyor including material handling buckets, of a drive shaft for theconveyor, and a. bumper swingably suspended from the drive shaft forimparting a hammer-like impact to each bucket, as the successive bucketsreach a predetermined position.

10. Material handling mechanism comprising (the combination with aconveyor including material handling buckets each of which has a camsurface, a bumper swingably mounted and biased to contact with saidbuckets whereby as said 40 buckets are moved said bumper will strikeeach successive bucket and be positioned by each bucket cam surface tostrike the next succeeding bucket.

11. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with aconveyor including material handling buckets each of which has a roundedbottom portion presenting a cam surface. a bumper swingably mounted andbiased to contact with said buckets during their travel and to move oversaid cam surface of a bucket and be released thereby to contact asucceeding bucket to impart a blow thereto.

12. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with aconveyor including a plurality of material handling buckets at leastsome of which have cam surfaced bottoms, a bumper swingably mounted andbiased to contact with said cam surfaced bottoms and to strike a blow toa succeeding bucket as it is released by said cam surfaced bottom.

13. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with a pairof spaced endless chains, of sprockets for guiding and supporting saidchains whereby their direction of travel is changed as they pass aroundsaid sprockets, a shaft upon which said sprockets are mounted. bucketscarried between said chains adapted to change from a material carryingposition to a material discharging position as said chains change theirposition of travel as aforesaid, and

a bumper swingably mounted on said shaft and biased toward bucketcontacting position adapted to impart a blow to each bucket as itassumes a material discharging position.

14. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with anendless chain, of a sprocket for guiding and supporting said chainwhereby its direction of travel is changed as it passes around saidsprocket, a shaft upon which said sprocket is mounted, buckets carriedby said chain adapted to change from a material carrying position to amaterial discharging position as said chain moves around said sprocket,and a bumper swingably mounted on said shaft and adapted to strike thebottom outside surface of said buckets as they reach a dischargingposition.

15. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with endlessdraft means, of means for guiding and supporting saidv draft meanswhereby its direction of travel is changed as it passes around saidguiding means, buckets carried by said draft means adapted to changefrom a material carrying position to a material discharging position assaid draft means changes its direction of travel as aforesaid, and meansincluding a bumper swingably mounted and adapted to strike the bottomoutside surfaces of said buckets as they reach a discharging position toaid in removing any material carried thereby.

16. Material handling mechanism comprising the combination with anendless draft means, of

means for guiding and supporting said draft means whereby its directionof travel is changed as it passes around said guiding means, bucketscarried by said draft means adapted to change from a material carryingposition to a material discharging position as said draft means movesaround said guiding means, and means including a bumper swingablymounted and adapted to strike the bottom outside surfaces of saidbuckets as they reach a discharging position to aid in removing anymaterial carried thereby, said last named means being operable by saidbuckets.

CHARLES S. HENDERSON.

